Falling For YA

In my Trial Techniques class we have been learning about power words, words that when you hear them illicit an emotion or memory that jurors can then connect to the theme of the trial. Some examples of power words would be Jealousy, Integrity, Hope, and I will now be adding Prodigy to that list. Not only is the title a power word but it connects the entire story together in such a way that I was absolutely mesmerized.

Prodigy begins where Legend left off. Day and June have just escaped Los Angeles and are on a train to Las Vegas. Immediately upon getting to Las Vegas Elector Primo dies and needing help June and Day seek out the Patriots. In exchange for their help June and Day must assassinate the new Elector, Anden. Only Anden isn’t the man his father was and lines begin to blur on who exactly the bad guys and good guys are.

I loved Legend and the sequel Prodigy took the series to another level. The alternating perspective was once again well done but I noticed that in this novel I was more excited to read about June then about Day. It wasn’t that I disliked Day’s perspective I was just more intrigued with June’s journey. I loved learning more about the society. For those who were not happy with the world building in Legend, the society is further fleshed out in Prodigy and I finally feel I have a good grasp on why the Elector’s regime took hold and why there is a war going on.

I also enjoyed the character development in Prodigy. June and Day have always felt like adults to me. They were both too smart and always one step ahead of any plans or traps other characters set for them. It was interesting in this novel, to watch them riddle out the puzzle of who exactly to trust and about Anden’s motives in Prodigy. Seeing that June and Day could be tricked and trust the wrong people made them feel like real flawed people.

My one gripe with Prodigy is that Marie Lu threw in a love square, I assume, to make things a little more interesting and complicated. Well, it definitely made things more complicated but it also rubbed me the wrong way. Both Day and June have been through so much that watching them second guess themselves as well as each other just hurt to read about.

Overall, I really enjoyed Prodigy I was on the edge of my seat the entire novel, the action never stopped. I must warn you though the ending was not what I was expecting and wrenched my heart. Needless to say I can not wait for the final book in this trilogy, 2014 has never felt so far away!